However, the situation is more complicated than the Nielsen ratings suggest.First, I don’t think I saw more than three commercials during the game.I was at a Super Bowl party, and even though we were watching live (i.e. no DVR pauses or rewinds), commercial breaks meant time to talk with friends and a chance to visit the chocolate fountain in the other room.

Advertisers shouldn’t despair, however.Today I checked out several of the Super Bowl commercials online.Pepsi ad with Justin Timberlake?Not bad.

It strikes me that this scenario is strikingly representative of American TV culture at the moment – a mix of broadcast and Web video, and a television experience that extends beyond the time window of a single broadcast event.What other elements will we add in a few years?More mobile TV?More on-demand TV?More interactive and “social” TV?Check back after Super Bowl XLV.